What you will do… Simulate a zombie apocalypse where the best and brightest young people (YOU!) are being trained as medical students with a specialty in neuroscience Compare a “normal” brain to that of a “zombie” brain to understand the important role of neurons and neurotransmission Develop a cure to the epidemic and save humanity

Your Mission Welcome to Harvard Medical School. We have recruited you because you are the best and the brightest young minds boasting skills in technology, working well in groups, and most important of all, your creativity. We will assume that you have at least some background in biology, but nothing more yet. We will especially be focusing on neuroscience as we have at least deduced that the brain plays a very important role in explaining zombie behavior. Your ultimate goal, should you pass your tests, will be to become a medications development specialist doctor and create a cure for the zombie plague that is destroying the entire world. Will you decide to save the world or will let it fall into eternal ruin?

Background Information “One-third of humanity has perished from the plague. 2.3 billion people have died, and countless more are quickly moving towards the final stages of the disease. There is reason to believe that in a short time, nearly everyone on Earth will be infected. The virus continues to spread exponentially, and all attempts at a vaccine or cure have failed. Scientific and industrial infrastructure is rapidly faltering. Early attempts at controlling the spread of the disease via nuclear and non-nuclear incineration have left the planet in an ecologically fragile state. Current computer models suggest that civilization can only survive for approximately another decade before we face total destruction. These are indeed dire times.” The Zombie Autopsies by Steven C. Schlozman, M.D.

1.What is a neuron? 2.What does it do? 3.How does it do it? To save the planet you must understand three questions…

A Neuron is: A specialized cell that receives information and transmits it to other cells

Neuron under an electron microscope

A Neuron

How Does it Work? Neurotransmission is a fancy name for two or more neurons communicating with each other. There are 4 neurons communicating in the picture to the right or you could say that neurotransmission is taking place 

Now let’s watch two animated version of neurotransmission. Click on the links below Neurotransmitter Synapse 3D Animation Neuron – 3D Medical Animation

On your “cartoon”... Make a key and color the following: Axon Terminal Synapse Neurotransmitter Dendrite Impulse/Message Vesicles

Neurons stay at rest with their sodium ions on the outside of the cell body (or soma) and potassium ions on the inside. Neurons are no longer at rest when the sodium ions on the outside of the cell body rush in and potassium ions on the inside rush out.

An electrical impulse is caused from the rushing in and out of the ions (depolarization)depolarization The electrical impulse races down the axon

Nerve Impulse

Once the electrical impulse reaches the axon terminal, it triggers the vesicles (containing neurotransmitters), to move toward the bottom of the axon terminal. neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are released from axon terminal and cross the tiny space between it and the next neuron called the synapse.

Neurotransmitters A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that carries signals between neurons as well as other cells in the body. These chemicals are released from the end of one neuron and cross the synapse to receptor sites in the next neuron.

Neurotransmitters Acetylcholine Acetylcholine (often abbreviated ACh) is the most common neurotransmitter. It is located in both the central nervous and peripheral nervous system Acetylcholine was the first neurotransmitter be identified in 1914 As a neuromodulator it acts on basic autonomic and muscular fuctions Sarin Gas disrupts its ability to function and often leads to death

Neurotransmitters Dopamine Generally involved in regulatory motor activity In the basal ganglia, involved in mood, sensory perception, and attention

Neurotransmitters Glutamate Is an excitatory neurotransmitter Plays a role in learning and memory Too much can cause seizures Malfunction of glutamate has also been associated with Alzheimer's’

Neurotransmitters Epinephrine Also known as adrenaline Causes the feeling of being “revved up” or on edge Activates a “fight or flight” reaction in the autonomic nervous system

Neurotransmitters Serotonin Attention and other complex cognitive functions, such as sleep (dreaming), eating, mood, pain regulation Neurons which use serotonin are distributed throughout the brain, stomach and spinal cord Mood disorders

Neurotransmitters GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) GABA is the most important and common inhibitory neurotransmitter Stops the brain from becoming overexcited »Too much may cause hallucinations

References Mhttp:// M 1/enemies-within-a-review-of-the-walking-dead- season-4-episode-2-infected/ 1/enemies-within-a-review-of-the-walking-dead- season-4-episode-2-infected/ /science-101-the-neuron/ /science-101-the-neuron/